Dave and Lillian Brummet offer tips, interviews and resources to inspire hope in individuals; helping them realize the value of their efforts, encouraging them to become more positive, proactive in life.

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Friday, December 19, 2014

I'm going to take the next week and a bit off from the blog, I'll be back by end of Dec. or early Jan. You know for nearly 20 years I rarely took one day off from the office, I was always doing something even on "a day off".. except for special occasions.

Lately I've been changing that. The last 4 years I've been taking more time for me, not trying to do as much and learning to be OK with that. I was reaching burn out and actually did burn out a few times. So I'm working on that now. This year as you know we released our 6th book - Rhythm and Rhyme - and have been working on another manuscript as time allows. I had hoped to have the 7th book published before xmas but we are still doing the rewrites and so it looks more like late spring for that one. Somehow between all this we have been able to continue making improvements to our home and gardens, while Dave adjusted to his new(ish) position as the local Ford dealership's Parts Department manager. Another year has passed, or nearly passed, and as such Dave and I would like to take some time to enjoy life, spend time with family/friends, relax, refresh, and organize our thoughts and agenda's for the upcoming year.I hope you are not disappointed and I do hope you will continue to read archives on this blog (they go back years and years and years) and the archived audio from our old radio show (7 years of archived interviews and special segments like Sunday Gardening, World of Writing and Positive News), visit us on social media and our website.Hugs to everyone who has spent some time with us online, who supported our business this last year - who bought books or booked lessons or hired Dave's drum services - and those who continue to grace our private lives with their presence. We appreciate you all.Wishing you all a warm and relaxing holiday season!Lillian and Dave

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's
Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!

another one for you...New York Times article on British Columbia's Powder Highway - Perhaps
no place else on earth possesses such a wealth of ski options as here in
the Kootenay Rockies - more at http://www.tmtv.net/newsroom.html

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's
Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!

Life in the
workplace has become increasingly stressful. The financial stress from the
global economy downturn has impacted businesses, non‐profit organizations,
ministries, schools, and government agencies. Employees in the workforce are
discouraged. Team members are having to "do more" with less
resources. Staff members report not feeling valued for the work they are doing,
and are approaching burnout.

Sixty‐five percent of workers
report receiving no recognition or appreciation from their supervisors in the
past twelve months. And 79% of employees who quit their jobs report that not
feeling valued as one of the top reasons for leaving.

At the same time,
business managers and organizational leaders are frustrated. They know their
team members are working hard, but they are getting worn down. Many
organizations have attempted to address the issue by implementing employee
recognition plans. But, in one study, only 31% of employees in organizations
that have recognition plans reported feeling appreciated for doing their work
well. As a result, leaders often feel stuck ‐ they want to do something that will
encourage their staff but they don't know what to do.

The Importance of Appreciation

Why is feeling
appreciated so important in a work setting? Because each of us wants to know
that what we are doing matters. Without a sense of being valued by supervisors
and colleagues, workers start to feel like a machine or a commodity.

When team members do not feel valued, the results are
predictable:

•Workers become discouraged, feeling there
is "always more to do and no one notices whether I do a good job or
not."

•Employees begin to complain about their
work and negative communication among co-workers increases.

Communicating Appreciation Authentically

We have identified four critical factors that need to occur
for appreciation to be experienced as authentic appreciation by team members:

•Appreciation must be
communicated regularly. If appreciation is only
communicated during performance reviews, employees don't believe the messages
sent. Similarly, infrequent messages (once or twice a year) don't adequately
communicate that the team member is truly valued.

•Appreciation must be
individualized and delivered personally. People want to be
appreciated for what they individually have contributed. Unfortunately, most
organizations use group‐based
acts of appreciation ‐a
blast email thanking the department for getting a project done or a volunteer
appreciation picnic.This type of
communication often backfires, with employees becoming cynical or feeling
offended by the general nature of the act.

•Appreciation needs to be
communicated in the languages and actions that are meaningful to the recipient.
Individuals have specific ways in which they prefer to be encouraged. When
messages are sent repeatedly in ways outside of our primary language, the
intent of the message "misses the mark." Not only is this
ineffective, it becomes discouraging as well ‐ both to the sender and the receiver of
the message.

•Appreciation needs to be
perceived as being authentic.People
want appreciation to be genuine. Workers are skeptical of programs implemented
from the top down where supervisors are given an instruction to
"communicate appreciation for each team member at least once a week."
While we all want to know that we are valued, we want it to be authentic, not
contrived.

Practical Steps to Take

Identify a colleague that, without them, your daily life at work would
be significantly more difficult. (If you want to find out want actions are most
meaningful to them, either ask them what tends to be encouraging to them, or
have them take our Motivating By
Appreciation Inventory.) Otherwise,
start by communicating to them, either in person or through writing,
specifically what they do that you appreciate and why their actions are
important to you. One small comment can make a difference!

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's
Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's
Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!

Thursday, December 11, 2014

I’ve always enjoyed the task of wrapping, but just the other
day a friend of mine told me that she loathed wrapping and saw it as a chore
when it comes to the holidays and special celebrations. She is not the first of
my friends to express this. For those of us concerned about living a more
conscious, green lifestyle, it can be challenging to find eco-friendly wrapping
materials, although there is an increasing variety becoming available in retail
outlets as people become more conscious. Today I have the honor of doing a
review of the Fobbie Holiday Wrap Pack
($39.95) for the Fab Fob Company, LLC
- which. has a slogan that I’m sure will appeal to my friend: “Gift wrapping in a cinch!”

Within just a few days after the original contact, the
product arrived in a roughly 2-by-8 inch cardboard box with very little
packaging. The only thing inside beside the product was a letter of greeting
and a thin catalog that showed many different ways of using their product,
some were incredibly creative and would certainly make a gift stand out. The
letter was only printed on one side, as such the company might have used the
other side to further promote their products or offer coupons or something,
however the recipient of the letter can always use the other side as scrap
paper/notepaper. The product was encased in a resealable plastic bag with a
simple label on the bag. I feel that as far as the environmental impact of the
packaging goes, the company made a genuine effort to reduce waste -
everything is reusable and recyclable.

I received 3 rolls of ribbon (valued at $3.49 per roll),
each with a protective plastic sheet over just the ribbon itself, and stored, rolled
up on a cardboard tube container – other then the ribbon the other items are
recyclable. My husband and I were quite impressed with the volume of ribbon
provided in the review sample package. Dave immediately noticed that two of the
ribbon rolls looked red one way, some red and green and black if you looked
dead on at it, and if you tilt the roll another way it looked green – as such
the ribbon would look multicolored on a package. Also included in the sample package
were 12 pairs of different designs from their large selection of Fobbies. A black and white diagram on
the reverse side of each Fobbie explains
how to use and reuse them indefinitely.

The way it works is this:

Take two pieces of ribbon that are long enough to wrap
around the gift, wrap one ribbon around the package and then do the same thing
with the other ribbon so that both ribbon ends are on the top of the gift. Push
one ribbon end through the 2nd slot in the Fobbie and then pull the
end through the other slot. Repeat with all the ribbon ends. The process is
similar to a buckle. When you are finished you simply pull the ribbon ends so
that it cinches up snugly against the gift, trim the ribbon ends and you are
done. It is super easy to do and the diagram instruction on the back of each
Fobbie acts as an effective visual aide to help you. Do it once and you’ll
never forget how it was done. Liz Mrofka (the inventor of this product)
recommends using wire ribbon because it “has
a lot of depth” and holds its shape well.

Now there are several neat things about this that
immediately stood out for me – the recipient of the gift can more easily unwrap
the gift so it would be a perfect option for those that are not as nimble in
their old age or for young recipients as well. For those of us who like to reuse
wrapping and ribbon when possible, we will love the fact that there is less
tape and other obstructions that can rip and tear when unwrapping. While both
the Fobbie and the ribbon, (and possibly the paper or bag) are reusable - a
very eco-friendly and budget friendly option – it may be a good idea to mention
that fact in the card to the recipient so that they are aware of it and will be
more likely to reuse.

Another benefit is that people will no longer have to worry
about losing a gift tag either because the Fobbie is the gift tag. Using these
will also prevent smashed bows and decorations from breaking off and making a
mess. Use these special wrapping tools to give your baked goods a special look.
Ease the wrapping chore, especially for irregular shaped items, and reduce
concerns about damaging the gift’s beauty during traveling or if you are
shipping a gift out.

Ok, so you are probably wondering what a Fobbie is – the
name actually comes from the word “fob”: an ornament at the end of a ribbon.
Look in the center of the pictures of wrapped gifts in this post and you’ll see
them there in the middle. They are about 3.5” round, and come in packs of 6
($8.49), and packs of 12 ($14.99), assortment packs of 21 Fobbbies ($24.99),
5-pack of do-it-yourself variation ($5.99), or in single orders as well (ranging
from $1. 49-$1. 75). The Fobbie seems to be almost as thick as a hardcover
book’s cover, so it is very durable. It is made from all recyclable materials and
it is recyclable… unfortunately it is manufactured in China, which has a
terrible reputation for worker rights, environmental laws and comes with a high
fossil fuel cost because it is shipped all the way here from China.

The information catalog showed some really interesting
ways of using the Fobbie – such as using seamstress-measuring tape instead of
ribbon, or long grasses, etc. They also have picture frame style Fobbies, which
can be made into a hanging picture or magnet for the recipient’s enjoyment. The
picture frame style doesn’t depict that you have to use a picture, you can use
cut outs from old cards that you received in the past, magazine or calendar
images, etc. The company also has special occasion (birthday, etc) and
announcements (appreciation, birth, etc.) and many other varieties that will
really be helpful to those interested in this product.

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, free archives of their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

* Today's article was written by: Suzie Kolber - a
writer at http://obituarieshelp.org/words_of_condolences_hub.html . The site is
a complete guide for someone seeking help for writing words of condolences, sympathy messages, condolence
letters and funeral planning resources.

What do you say to your best friend when his father dies? How do
you comfort your cousin who has lost a spouse? And what words can comfort a
parent who has lost their child? These are common thoughts for anyone when
trying to decide how to offer sympathies to a grieving family member or friend.

Don’t Avoid the Issue

Instead of trying to talk around the subject, acknowledge the
situation. It is appropriate to say that you heard that a person died even if
it occurred some time ago. This lets the other person know that you are willing
to talk about it and allows them to say what they want.

You should always be honest and sincere even if that means
admitting that you don’t know what to say. Sometimes just saying that you are
sorry about the situation is enough. You can say it in a variety of ways.

·“I’m sorry to hear about your loss.”

·“I’m sorry that you are going through this.”

·“I want you to know how sorry I am
that this has happened to you.”

Showing your concern lets the other person know that he or she is
not alone.

Be Supportive

You may feel like you should be doing something for the grieving
person. It feels awkward to just stand or sit and talk about the situation. If
you are the type of person who wants to “fix” things, you should use that
attitude in this situation. While you can’t fix it, you can do things to make
the burden easier.

Some examples of support include helping out with tasks around the
house or caring for children so that the person can deal with other jobs. You
may be able to take on some projects that the deceased handled, especially
important when the people are older. Maybe he mowed the lawn or she cooked
dinner. Now that they are gone, this task is left up to the family member. They
may feel overwhelmed at all of the work to do and appreciate you taking on the
responsibility for a few days or weeks.

One of the best ways to offer ongoing support is by asking how the
person feels. This allows them to deal with their feelings and express any
concerns they are having. This is a good question to ask even months later
because grief doesn’t go away in a few days. Only the support seems to lessen
as time goes by. When you receive an answer to your question, don’t assume that
means you have to respond or “make them feel better.” Just the act of telling
you that today is a bad day or they spent the morning crying can be enough.

The most important thing to remember about offering sympathy to
people who are dealing with the loss of a loved one is that the words don’t
matter as much as you think. It is the meaning and the intention behind the
words.

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's
Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!

Monday, December 8, 2014

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's
Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!

Gardening is a simple and
gratifying hobby that is enjoyed by millions. A gardener can manage one or two
containers on a balcony to a complex lot that spans several acres.

Regardless
of the size of the garden, the basic rules to maintain the garden are generally
the same.

Here are several basic tips for the new gardeners:

Right place - Make sure
to plant the flowers, fruits, or vegetables in the right place to match the
specific type of plant. Avoid trying to suit a plant to an empty plot, as
successful growth isn't likely to be achieved if the right shady, moist, dry,
or hot spot isn't provided.

Mature growth - The full
size of a plant, shrub, or tree should be considered when planning the garden
landscape. A common mistake is to plant shrubs or trees too closely, and not
appreciating the mature size after several seasons of growth. Compacted plants
can leave the perennial bed looking overgrown and crowded.

Start small - Start out
with a small bed or patch to give the new gardener time to hone their gardening
skills. An ideal size is a single 25' X 25' patch or a 4' X 8' bed. Make sure
to carefully plan the garden to increase the chance of enjoying successful
growth and avoid improperly sited trees. A fruit-bearing tree planted in a less
than ideal position is certain to cause a lot of trouble in 5 or 10 years
should it need to be relocated.

Feed the soil - Give the
soil a regular application of nutrient-rich materials to help promote strong
growth of the plant life. Preferred soil amendments include well-rotted
homemade compost, grass clippings, crushed leaves, and similar organic matter.

Mass the plants - Try to
plant the small plants or flowers so that the leaves slightly overlap or touch
to help with creating a micro-climate. This offers the benefit of minimizing
weed growth. Also, this make sure you see a lot more plants and color in the
garden, and a lot less soil between the plants.

Varied plant life - A
garden landscape that relies on only flower color isn't the most attractive
option. A well-planned garden should also consider texture, foliage, and winter
interest.

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's
Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!

Thursday, December 4, 2014

“When the breath
wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too
will be still.”

~ Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika

-- Scotland's Green Power Project --

Some interesting numbers were recently released re: Scotland's fantastic efforts to green the country. They produced enough solar and wind energy in the month of October alone to power 3,045,000 homes. Yep - over 3 million homes, which is actually more than enough for the country. Because of their climate, home owners in Scotland can actually produce 45% of their energy needs from the sun alone, simply by installing solar panels.

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's
Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

I came across the quote above and it got me reminesing on all the wonderful fur-children that have blessed our lives. Pets really are such a blessing, they comfort us, cheer us, get us playing and giggling on the floor. They hug us, kiss us, cuddle us and love us. They are, like us, animals - and as such have instincts that come with their species and breed, however each of them has their own unique personality. I was inspired to write this open letter to all the animals who had a direct impact on my life simply with their presence.

Thank you to:

Sadie, my best friend on a farm - not just a milk cow but a play mate, a source of comfort and solace.Angel, the pure white kitten with two different eyes who sadly was never really well.Casper, Angel's brother who had translucent faint blue eyes.Harley, who greated me ever day after work singing to me from our apartment window as he saw me walking home. Fritz, who belonged to a roommate we had for some 5-6 years. Homer, who ran away after accidentally being enclosed in a friend's van overnight.Muffin, who joined our home before finding a fur-ever one.Indy, Muffin's daughter who graced us with her long life (12 years).Skylo, a loyal, comforting canine who protected me and helped me heal old wounds.Onyx, a troubled abused dog designated as "unadoptable" who helped me heal old wounds, to love unconditionally, forgive and realize my strengths. Skyla, the clumsy Grendel like puppy who still brings giggles and joy to us ever day.Duchess, the amazing clown-faced dog - protective and big hearted, but most of all the most loving and playful creature I've ever known who curls up on Dave's lap on the floor like a little puppy (which she is NOT). Korma, the street kitten who found her home with us (a few years ago) that plays with Skyla, cuddles and sleeps with Duchess (despite having her own bed) and adores her human daddy Dave.

For those that are no longer with us - we miss you... I miss you. I hope you'll forgive my weaknesses and know that I remember you and care for you still. For those still with us - I adore you and am so grateful you joined our home! Remember - if you plan on giving a pet this holiday season or at any other time of the year to learn more about the recipient ( are they high energy or low energy etc.) and discuss it with the animal shelter. Animal shelters are really strained during the winter months because there are more animals needing shelter at that time of year and because of the higher costs in heating the building and lower volunteer #'s due to people traveling to warmer climates. If you can: adopt, donate funds or supplies (towels, rags, paper towels, pet shampoo, treats, etc.), or volunteer if you can. Also, if you have a chance, try to promote the animal shelters online by helping to spread the word about their fundraisers, events, or just generally sharing info about them to your contacts online.

Find Dave and Lillian Brummet, excerpts
from their books, their radio program, blog, and more at:
http://brummet.ca * Support the Brummets by telling your friends,
clicking those social networking buttons, or visiting the Brummet's
Store - and help raise funds for charity as well!